After a month of study, San Antonio Archbishop Gustavo García-Siller has affirmed the “spirit” of a City Council proposal to add gender identity and sexual orientation to San Antonio's anti-discrimination policy, citing Catholic teachings to show compassion and human dignity to people with same-sex attraction.

But the archbishop also described the proposed ordinance as “incomplete” for not spelling out more protections for people to live out their belief in traditional marriage without a potential backlash.

The opinion came about after more than a month of meetings with officials about the draft ordinance, said García-Siller in an interview and statement published on the archdiocese website.

Religious leaders from the national and local level have weighed in on the controversial bill, including San Antonio TV evangelist John Hagee, who announced earlier this week he no longer opposed the draft ordinance because of recent revisions.

The proposal's supporters characterized the archbishop's tone in the statement as positive even though he raised similar concerns of its more vocal opponents.

“The Archdiocese of San Antonio does not oppose the spirit of this ordinance, but we feel that it is incomplete as it stands,” the statement said. “People of faith should not become a target for legal action for expressing deeply held beliefs on human sexuality, marriage and chastity.”

“The development of laws or policies promoting and enhancing the dignity of the human person is a noble goal, one worthy of a just society,” he wrote. “However, society must also avoid establishing civil laws and policies conflicting with natural moral law, destabilizing the family, or infringing on human and constitutional rights.”

The ordinance's proposed changes, authored by City Councilman Diego Bernal, are expected to go to a council vote Sept. 5. The local religious community has had mixed responses so far, from support by those already favoring LGBT rights to relief that recent wording changes no longer threaten their religious freedoms.

But there remains outrage that such a potential still exists.

Bernal argues his proposal is an overdue update in step with other major Texas cities and would not hinder free speech and religious liberty.

Both Bernal and García-Siller described their exchanges as productive and cordial and expressed optimism about future dialogue and wording changes.

“It's not at all surprising to me that the archbishop and the Catholic Church would take such a gracious and loving tone,” Bernal said. “They clearly understand the spirit of this ordinance. They, like the rest of us, come in contact with great, loving people from all walks of life and believe we should treat everyone equally and with dignity.”

Religion is an existing protected class in city code, and the proposal carves out certain exemptions for religious groups such as in hiring practices, which Bernal argues goes far in preserving religious autonomy.

“The spirit of the ordinance is well taken,” said García-Siller, “but the lack of clarity can lead to many interpretations and with time, it would be very complicated and we may not be able to live out our values and beliefs according to First Amendment rights.